歐洲議會13日通過一項化學品總量管制的新歐盟新化學物政策法案，未來將要求製造商登記其生產或進口的化學產品，並於每年提出數據。其所列管的3萬種化學品，有許多是生活中常見商品的原料，如化粧品、玩具及建材等。
未來製造商必須呈交一份替代方案，以較安全的物質取代有毒化學物質；而在列管的3萬種化學物當中，大約3000種最毒物已有替代物，倘若市面上還沒有適用的替代物質，製造商就得提出研發計劃。
這項法規名為REACH（Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals；化學品註冊、評估、授權法案），未來將取代歐盟現行管理化學物的40條法律。這項法案將自2007年6月起強制執行，登記程序預計要花11年才能完成——取決於化學物的危害風險和製造量，但所有列管物質都需在2018年之前完成登記。
歐盟環境執委狄瑪斯（Stavros Dimas）表示，「REACH具有非常重要的立法意義，絕對可以保護人民健康和環境安全，可以增進我們對化學物質的了解而更安全地使用，並促使製造商研發較安全的替代物質。」
然而，環保和消費團體認為REACH不夠完善。在一份聯合聲明中，由歐洲地球之友、歐洲女性共創未來國際組織、綠色和平組織、歐洲消費者合作組織、健康和環境聯盟和歐洲環保聯盟代表全球31國143個團體共同指出，「REACH最大的漏洞是容許很多危害健康的物質繼續用於生產各樣消費產品，這些化合物可能導致癌症、胎兒畸形、生殖系統異常。」
歐洲化學企業長期以來持續針對REACH進行遊說動作，希望能維持業界最大利益，3年來的苦心總算沒有白費。環保團體表示，13日歐盟議會通過的法案版本顯然是業界大勝，削弱了REACH初衷美意。
環保團體指出，「更多的讓步還包括允許一年進口和製造量低於10噸的公司，可免除於此項法令規範之外，不需提供任何有意義的安全資料。然而這些公司所使用的化學物質有60%在REACH的管制之下。」
The European Parliament Wednesday approved a new regulation for 30,000 chemicals which will oblige producers to register all chemical substances produced or imported above a total quantity of one metric ton per year. Many are chemicals used in everyday products such as cosmetics, toys and building materials.
Producers will have to submit a substitution plan to replace these toxic chemicals with safer ones. When no alternative exists, producers must present a research plan aimed at finding one. The substitution measure covers about 3,000 of the most hazardous chemical substances.
The regulation, known as REACH for Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals, replaces 40 legislative texts that now govern chemicals in the European Union.
The regulation will enter into force in June 2007, and the registration process will take 11 years to be completed. The calendar for registration depends on the risk of the substance and the quantity produced, but all covered substances will have to be registered by 2018.
European Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said, "REACH is an extremely important piece of legislation, which will significantly improve the protection of human health and the environment. It will increase our knowledge about chemicals, enhance safety, and spur innovation while encouraging substitution of highly dangerous substances by safer ones."
But environmental and consumer groups say the REACH regulation does not go far enough. "Major loopholes in REACH will still allow many chemicals that can cause serious health problems, including cancer, birth defects and reproductive illnesses, to continue being used in manufacturing and consumer goods," according to a joint statement by Friends of the Earth Europe, Women in Europe for a Common Future, Greenpeace Europe, Eurocoop, the Health & Environment Alliance, and the European Environmental Bureau, which represents 143 member organizations in 31 countries.
The European chemical industry has lobbied long and hard to shape the regulation in their favor during the three years of negotiations that led to its adoption by Parliament Wednesday. The environmental groups note that industry won concessions that weaken the rule.
"Further concessions exempt companies which import and manufacture chemicals in volumes below 10 tons a year - 60 percent of chemicals covered by REACH - from the requirement to provide any meaningful safety data," the groups said.
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In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
